Southwest Airlines Community

Oh yes -- sorry, I should have been more specific and said "printed boarding pass." I'm not sure why the mobile boarding passes don't indicate EarlyBird. Your not-great position is likely then a result of you buying EBCI late, since positions are assigned in order of purchase. ... View more

Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, Southwest just doesn't do well in IROPS.   They often cancel flights aggressively prior to the weather event, which may or may not turn out to be as significant as forecast, in an attempt to not strand their planes in affected areas, since their entire system is more affected but outages anywhere in the network. With a "point-to-point" system (vs "hub-and-spoke" of most other carriers), flights that are no where near affected areas can still be disrupted, since planes hopscotch across the country.   Also, their IT often fails, and phones systems aren't particularly adaptable to greater volume, which exacerbates the situation, and causes unnecessary extra stress for affected passengers.   It's not uncommon to have a Southwest flight cancelled due to weather, not be able to be re-accommodated for several days, then find a flight on another carrier to the same city within the same time period that's operating on schedule.    While they obviously can't control the weather, one hopes they will actually address their IT and operational issues, instead of just issuing blanket apologies again and again. But, since this has been ongoing for many years now, once is not particularly optimistic.   This is the unfortunate reality of flying Southwest. They do many things right (no change fees, bags fly free, RR program) but IROPS is absolutely not one of those things.     ... View more

Assuming you bought a Wanna Get Away fare, unfortunately no. You now have travel funds, held under the confirmation number of the cancelled flight, which you can use towards new travel for yourself (only), to be completed by the expiration date shown on your cancellation confirmation (usually one year from the original date of purchase). You can't apply these funds to an already purchased flight. ... View more

Unfortunately, no. Southwest Vacations is actually a completely separate company than Southwest Airlines. Southwest Vacations is really Mark Travel doing business under that name, one of many they use. Their customer service ratings aren't great, and once common complaint is that if anything goes wrong, Southwest Airlines won't help -- they'll just direct you to Southwest Vacations.   From the Southwest Airlines website:   Unused Ticketless Travel Funds: Southwest Airlines accepts unused ticketless travel funds for Passenger travel purchased through Southwest Airlines, excluding the Southwest Airlines Group Desk and Southwest Airlines® Vacations. Unused ticketless travel funds may be redeemed at Southwest.com, through Southwest Airlines Reservations, and at Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter locations. All travel involving unused ticketless travel funds must be completed by the expiration date. Unused ticketless travel funds may only be applied toward the purchase of future travel for the individual named on the ticket. ... View more

Are the flight dates prior to 6/29/2017? All travel must be completed before the expiration.     ... View more

Business Select guarantees an A1-15 position. If you didn't receive that, then you should contact Customer Relations.   The situation you've just described sometimes occurs when Southwest makes an operational change to a direct flight that becomes a connecting one. Again, if you purchased BS and didn't receive an A1-15 position (as well as purchasing a direct flight and receiving a connecting one) then you didn't get what you purchased. Customer Relations should be able to offer you compensation in these cases.   Hope this helps. ... View more

Doing the above is a great idea when nothing else works, but doing so removes the fare protection, meaning that you'll likely pay much more for the new flight. 😞   Another option is to search other carriers, and then request a full refund of the cancelled Southwest flight. This will also likely cost more. ... View more

At ATL, Southwest uses only concourse C, gates 1-7, 9, 10, 12-17, 20-22. At worst you'll have a maybe a 5-10 minute walk. ... View more

Unfortunately, access for many outside the US has been blocked for nearly a year now. Apparently, Southwest has chosen to prioritize this issue below resolving the many other issues affecting the website as they convert to their new "next generation reservation system." Never known for having great IT, Southwest is in a challenging position at the moment as they strive to upgrade their antiquated systems. It's not going particularly well, but the next few months should indicate whether they'll make it into the modern world intact. 😉   In the meantime, here are some things you can try:   -- Access the website using a proxy server. There are many free ones available online. -- Try using the Southwest app on your cell carrier's network (not your internet provider).   Good luck!     ... View more

(Not what the OP asked, but to clarify...)   Hotel partner points transfers are still eligible for Companion Pass qualification, but only through March 31, 2017. ... View more

Yes, not always automatically checking in A-Listers is weird. And it doesn't sound right. But that's how Southwest does it. 😉   If you have A-List, you don't have to worry about checking in. You are checked in automatically, and receive a position beginning with A16.   Unless... if you've purchased Business Select, you have to check in manually. But, the worst position you can receive, even if you forget to check in until you get to the airport, is A15. Which is better that the best position an A-Lister can receive being automatically checked in on any other fare.   Early Bird is a duplicate of the services offered by A-List (auto check in) and is unnecessary with BS.   It seems like you're new to Southwest? They do everything very differently than the legacy carriers. Once you fly them a while you'll get the hang of it. 😉     ... View more

U.S. Department of Transportation regulations require that, as long as you've booked a non-refundable ticket 7 days ahead of your flight, you're entitled to cancel your reservation within 24 hours of booking for a full refund. If the passeneger has checked in and has a boarding pass, but it's less than 24 hours since purchase, the rule doesn't apply since it's less than the 7 day period.   Southwest's published rules however, appear not to require the 7 day advance purchase period:     For nonrefundable reservations within 24 hours of booking: If you call or cancel online at Southwest.com within 24 hours of booking, Southwest will offer you the option of refunding the airfare back to the original form of payment, or retaining the credit to be used toward future travel.   Meaning that, you are due a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours, even if you've been checked in or issued a boarding pass, even on a Wanna Get Away fare.   Senior Fares are refundable. Just like Anytime of Business Select, you're due a full refund back to the original form of purchase upon cancellation, regardless of timing.   One significant policy change effective for travel after May 9 limits that refundability however. You can receive a full refund only if you've made no change to the itinerary. If any change is made, you can cancel for travel funds only -- just like a WGA fare. So it's very important now to not ever change a refundable fare (Senior, Anytime, BS) but instead to always cancel for full refund and then rebook.   An exception to the refund policy is if you've used a Southwest Gift Card for the booking. The terms of the Gift Card say that any refunds -- even within 24 hours -- don't go back to the card, they become travel funds, linked to the specific passenger and valid for one year from date of original booking. Just like any regular Wanna Get Away fare cancellation, regardless of timing, and regardless of fare type.   Hope this helps!     ... View more

Long hold times are sadly pretty common these days. Whenever there is any weather or IT issues this happens. 😞   What do you mean by "upgrade"?   You might be able to do what you need online. ... View more

A-Listers are checked in automatically 36 hours prior to departure, and given positions beginning at A16. UNLESS you have purchased a BS fare. BS fares are not checked in automatically, but are guaranteed an A1-15 position. Those positions are assigned in the order of check in, beginning 24 hours before departure. Don't call, just use the website or app to check in. ... View more

There are multiple A-List challenge promotions offered. Does yours give you A-List now, and extend it if you qualify, or does it give you A-List only once you qualify?   If you flew Business Select and did not receive an A1-15 position there was some error (infamous Southwest "glitch") and you were due an adjustment or other compensation.   You cannot add EarlyBird Check-In to a BS fare, since BS guarantees an A1-15 position (prior to EBCI ones).   A-List positions are automatically assigned beginning 36 hours prior to departure. If an A-Lister receives a position in the B or C group (happens when a flight change is made less than 36 hours before departure) they can board after the A group.   Business Select fares guarantee an A1-15 boarding position. positions are assigned in order of check in, beginning 24 hours prior to departure. Whoever checks in first gets A1.   A-Listers who purchase BS fares are (bizarrely) not automatically checked in as they would be with any other fare. ... View more

A-List positions are automatically assigned beginning 36 hours prior to departure. If an A-Lister receives a position in the B or C group (happens when a flight change is made less than 36 hours before departure) they can board after the A group.   Business Select fares guarantee an A1-15 boarding position. positions are assigned in order of check in, beginning 24 hours prior to departure. Whoever checks in first gets A1.   A-Listers who purchase BS fares are (bizarrely) not automatically checked in as they would be with any other fare.     ... View more

What airport is the connection? That will make a big difference.   They should be able to check your bag all the way through to your destination as long as you use the full-service bag check (not express bag drop or self-tag).   If your first flight is delayed, you'll be at the mercy of the agent for rebooking to your final destination, but if you explain the situation they should be able to help you. Good luck! ... View more

Senior fares are refundable; WGA fares are not. ... View more

Official policy is that passengers with pets do not pre-board, but agents have discretion as you've discovered. ... View more

Unfortunately, the Groups department is under-staffed, so long wait times are common. Do you have over 10 people? That's required for a Group reservation. There are some benefits to using Groups, primarily concering the ability to change traveler names after booking and sometimes a lower fare than available online, but many people feel that the benefits outweigh the hassle. Good luck! ... View more

You need to add it to your flights.   https://www.southwest.com/flight/addSecureInfoEntry.html ... View more

Technically, no. The Family Boarding policy only includes children up to age 6. But this is very dependent upon the ops agent. I suspect you won't have a problem, but you could run into an agent who makes you all wait until your assigned positions (assuming there's not another adult traveling who can wait separately with the 8 year old). Good luck!   Do families get to preboard? An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position. ... View more

Technically, no. The Family Boarding policy only includes children up to age 6. But this is very dependent upon the ops agent. I suspect you won't have a problem, but you could run into an agent who makes you all wait until your assigned positions (assuming there's not another adult traveling who can wait separately with the 8 year old). Good luck!   Do families get to preboard? An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.   ... View more

Unfortunately, Southwest stopped allowing funds to be used by anyone several years ago. 😞   The fare rules are included in every confirmation email sent after booking, changing or cancelling a flight. Here's a sample from a flight I recently booked (emphasis mine):   Fare Rule(s): NONREF/NONTRANSFERABLE STANDBY REQ UPGRADE TO Y -BG WN Valid only on Southwest Airlines. All travel involving funds from this Confirmation Number must be completed by the expiration date. Unused travel funds may only be applied toward the purchase of future travel for the individual named on the ticket. Any changes to this itinerary may result in a fare increase. Failure to cancel reservations for a Wanna Get Away fare segment at least 10 minutes prior to travel will result in the forfeiture of all remaining unused funds. ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: The terminology might be mixed up, but the theory is correct - for A1-A15 in Business Select fares, the order is by who purchased first. If your boss is buying tickets last minute, then he would be more likely to get A9, and having A-list preferred wouldn't affect that position.   Then for A15 and up the A-list preferred and A-list get reserved first at 36 hours, and then the Early Bird tickets are reserved after them.   I'm not sure about the tie-breaker for A-list preferred and A-list order, it may also be according to earlier ticket purchases as well. This would make sense to me as it might be splitting hairs to allocate one before another in terms of current tier qualifying points for the year.   My experience is that I often buy tickets last minute, but before the 36 hour mark, and end up at the end of the A-list groups which support the theory. Not exactly correct... A1-15 are reserved for those who purchase Business Select tickets. The boarding order for BS is assigned -- regardless of any A-List status -- in the order of check in, beginning 24 hours before departure. The first person to check in gets A1.   A-Listers who've not bought Business Select are checked in automatically beginning 36 hours before departure, starting with position A-16. Southwest doesn't officially publish the method they use for assigning these positions, but it's believed they use some sort of algorithm that factors in fare cost and trip frequency. ... View more